Heat-distributing system.



W. H. PEARCE. HEAT DISTBIBUTING SYSTEM. APPLIOATION ULEB Jtmnzo. 1910.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

MMWM

w. H. PEARGB. l HEAT DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1910. 1,008,432.V

Patented Nov. 14, Il911.-

3 SHEETS-BEEN! 2.

W. H. PEARGE. HEAT DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM. APPLIOATIOH FILED JUNI: zo, 1910.

1 ,008,432. Patented Nov. 14,1911.

4 3 SHEETS-BEEF] y'3.

y @ifa 4 aoV UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

V WILLIAM H. PEARCE, 0F' CHICAGG, ILLINOIS.

HEAT-DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM.

To all whom. 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PEARGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illmois, have invented certain lnew and useful Improvements in Heat-Distributing Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in heat distributin systems and more particularly to that c ass o f systems in which the heating medium is delivered to different oints of use through service pipes or mains ocated below the surface of the ground and which Vpipes are surrounded by an insulating casing or covering spaced therefrom to confine the heat radiated from the pipe and deflect it back to the 'surface ofthe pipe.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved bearing for supporting and holding the pipe out of engagement with the insulating covering or caslng, and improved means for anchoring the bearing against displacement whereby portions of the bearing may roject through the insulation or casing wit out presenting an opening through which the heat may escape.

A further object is to provide an improved bearing for the ipe comprising a supprt having extende raceways'for recelvlng cylindrical members or balls upon which the pipe rests andwhich members are adapted to travel in the raceways by the l expansion and contraction of the pipes, and improved means whereby any dirt or foreign matterswhich are deposited in the raceways will be dischar ed therefrom to prevent the formation o an obstruction to the ciyl'lindrical members or balls and for keeping t e bearings clean. ir A further Objectis to provide improved means whereby the bearings may he adjustably mounted upon and secured to supporting brackets. V

A further object is to provide improved i means for joining or securing the ends of lSpel'zieation of Letters I'atent. Application led June20, -1910. Serial No. 587,777.

Patented Nov. 14, l1911.

employed for .warming or heating an hydraulic pressure pipe'arranged in the same ditch or trench, thereby rendering itpossible to arrange the hydraulic pipe nearer to the surface of the ground than usual or above the frost line without the danger of the liuid in the hydraulic pipe freezir g.

A urther object is to provide ar. improved connection between ad'acent en ds of pipe sections whereby the en s of pipe sections which are arranged at an angle to each other may be securely connected.

A further object is to provide ar` im-4 proved system of this character which will be simple and durable in construction, readily installed and effect-ive and eilicieiit in operationu To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful obects as will appear, the invention consists 1n the features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment, and in which- Fi ure 1 is a sectional View on line 1--1l of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a view Partly'in eleva tion and partly in section o a portion of a system constructed in accordance with the principles lof this invention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a portion of the heat main insulating casing or cordance with this lnvention and show ng a manhole. section showin the manner of joining,r two pipe sections w ich are arranged at an ingle to eachother. Fi 7 is a side elevation partly in section s owing the manner of connecting the ends of the insulating casing or` coverin l Fig. 8 is an enlarged view partly in e evation and partly in section of a manhole or junction box showing the manner in Whichthe bearings for the heat main Vor pipemay be employed for supporting the pipe at different elevations. IFlg. t) is a side elevation o tlasupporting bracket. Fig.

Fig. 6 is a plan view partly in 10 is a front elevation of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the connecting joint be.

`pletely surround the pipes 15 and is spaced therefrom so as to catch and confine the heat radiated from the pipe 15 and deflect- 'it back to the pipe. In order to support the insulating casing 16 out of contact with the pipe and to prevent it from sagging, a support 18 of any suitable material is p-rovided, which surrounds the inner face of the casing. The pipe 15 is held out of contact with the casing by means of suitable bearings, which latter preferably comprise spaced supports 19, which are connected by an intermediate member orconnecting bar 20. This bar or connecting member 2O terminates short' of the extremities of the bearings 19 and is located some distance below the top of t-he bearings. These bearings are hollow and preferably of pyramidal formation and are of some length. The tops of the bearings are provided with inclined sides 21, which converge toward the base of the bearing, and the extremities of the sides terminate short- Of each other to form a raceway havingan open bottom 21. The front and -rear of the bearings 19 project above the raceway as at 22 to form 'st ops for the balls 23, which are adapted to travel in the raceways. The sides of t ie bearings are cut away as at 24 to form shoulders 25 adjacent the bottom thereof, and t-he sides are further cut away as at 26 to form shoulders 27, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The bearings'19 are of a height somewhat greater than the thickness of the casing 16, and the. extremities of the'casing are cut away as at 28 so as to receive the extremities of the bearings. The portion of' the casing between the bearings 19 is cut away as at 29, sothat when the bearing is placed in position, the portion 29 of the casing will engage and extend overt-he conneet-ing bar 20 of the bearings, while the recessed or cut away portions 28 will receive the ends of the bearings. The bearings are adapted to extend into the adjacent ends of two sections of the casing, and when these l two sections of the casing are brought togethe-r as shown in Fig. 2, so that their extremities' will abut, the bearings will be incased and only the lower extremities thereof will project through the'casing as shown in will be completely housed. The

Figs. 1 and 3. In order to secure the sections of the casing together when thus assembled, suitable adhesive material 30 is arranged between the adjacent extremities, and a flexible member 31 in the form of a band is applied around the periphery of the casing so'as to extend across the joint formed by the adjacent ends. This band or flexible member 31 is seated within the openings 26 formed in the bottomv of the bearings, and if desired, suitable fastening devices 32 may oe employed which are inserted through the band 31 and into the body portion of the casing. It is not necessary, however, that these fastening devices be employed, but as an additional security they may be employed. lVhen the sections of the insulating casing or covering and the bearings 19v are thus secured in position, the pipes 15 will engage and rest upon the balls 23, and as the latter rests in the extended raceways, the expansion and contraction of the pipe sections caused by rising and falling of temperature will not be interfered with and during its expansion and contraction the balls 23 will travel in the raceways according to the direction of movement of thepipe.

In order to insure a complete insulation and to prevent the escape of any of the heat radiated from the surface of the pipe 15, the portions of the insulating casing 16 which have been cut away to form the recesses or openings 28, and the portions which have been cut away to form recesses for the reception of the cross-bar member 20 between the bearings 19, may be inserted into the bot'- tom of th'e hollow bearings 19 -to fill the space therein.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to v4, the insulating casing or covering thus formed and the bearings 19 are mounted upon a base or support 33, which may be constructed of any desired or suitable material, but preferably of a reinforced plastic structure, and when in position the portions of the bearings which protrude from the casing 16 will engage and rest directly upon the base 33. The casing and thebearings engage the supporting base 33 intermediate the ends thereof, and a covering 34 of any suitable material preferably of reinforced plastic material, is provided which completely covers the casing and .the portions of the bearings which protrude therefrom so that the insulating casing 16 rotruding portions of the bearings 19 will en ter the plastic material forming the covering 34 when the latter is being formed and will be anchored thereby to prevent displacement of the bearings. If desired, the casing formed by the portions 33 and 34 may be provided with a suitable waterproofing coating, or they may be constructed of material which contains a suitable waterproofing ingredient so that the water will not percolate through the casing to contact with the insulating casing or covering 16. This outer casing ,34 as well as the base 33 may be constructed in sections, shown more clearly in Fig. 2, and if so constructed the adjacent ends of the sections may be shouldered as at35, and a suitable connecting material 36, such as cement or the like, may be employed for securing the ends to form a fluid tight joint. With this improved bearing for supporting the pipes it will be apparent that any foreign substancesl which are deposited u on the walls 2,1 of the raceways, will be dlscharged through the openings 21a into the hollow body portion of the bearings 19,

and thereby form a dirt-proof bearing for the balls;

In Fig.l 4 there is shown two pipes or .heat mains 37,38, which are arranged in different planes with respect to each other, and an,outer casin 39 similar to the casing formed by the ase 33 and portion 34, and wire conduits are also arranged to be incased within the casing 39. These pipes 38 and the inclosing outer casing 39 are arran ed within a ditch or trench'41, and adraln pipe 42 is provided below the pipes 37, 38. Arranged within the same ditch or trench is an hydraulic pressure pipe 43, so that the heat units which are radiated from the outer casing` 39 will serve to heat or warm the pipe 43.` Heretofore it has been necessary in order to prevent the freezing `of the hydraulic pipes, to arrange them in the ground a sufficient, distance below ,the frost line, which frost line varies in different climates. By providing a heat distribut ing system of this character, it is possible to arrange the hydraulic pipe 43 within the same trench and in close proximity to the outer casing, and after the ditch is filled in, the heat units radiated from the outer casing 39 will' prevent the freezing of the liquid in the pipe 43 and by this means it is possible to arrangeb the hydraulic pipe 43 closer to the surface of the ground and above the frost line without danger of the pipe freezing.l struction of bearing it is also possible to suspend or support` pipes at different heights` within manholes or tunnels, and as shown in Figs. 8 to 10, there is provided a bracket 44 `having a supporting arm 45 projecting laterally therefrom. The arm 45 is of a width substantially equal to the width of the cut away portion 24 of the bearings 19, and is adapted to extend into such cu't away portion so that the shoulders 25 formed thereby will enga e and rest upon the upper surface of t e arm, as shown more clearly at the top ofFig. 8. When the bearing is thus placed upon the bracket, the pipe 15 will rest upon the balls 23` in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1 to With this improved conpermit the free longitudinal movement cf gthe pipes. At the same time the bearing T19 may be adjusted longitudinally of tle l arm 45 of the bracket 44 and laterally with I respect `to ythe wall 46 of the tunnel. Tte bracket may be provided with elongated 'l eyes 47 through which fastening devices 48 pass and which fastening devices engage or may be anchored to the wall of the tunnel. g By the provision of these elongated eyes tl .e

bracket may be raised or lowered as dc.

fsired. As shown at the bottom of Fig. 3, the bearing 19 may be mounted upon a pedestal 49 arranged upon the floor 50 of the tunnel.

In Fig. 5 a manhole 51 is arranged inte r- .mediate the length of the system and in 'which is a coupling or expansion joint 52, `which is anchored 'to a suitable support 53, and a similar coupling or expansion joint 54 -may be provided within another manhole 55, so as to permit .the heat distributing main to readily expand and coiltract; the drain pipe 42 being arranged below and substantially parallel with the service mains 15. The specific construction of the anchors for the sleeves, however, forms nopart of the present invention, bit form the subject-matter of a separate application, Serial No.. 567,778, filed June 20, 1910. In order to connect branchpipes to the sleeves 52 or to connect adjacent ends of the pipe sections together when the pal ts to be coupled are arranged at different angles, suitable rings 56 are provided, each of which is of a wedge-shaped formaticn. These rings are arranged between the extremities of two pipe sections 57, as shown more clearly in Fig. 11, or between a pi pe section 58 and a branch opening 59 `of the sleeve 52. These rings are arranged between two coupling members' 60, and are each provided with an operating handle 61 projecting from the periphery thereof. The coupling rings 60 are connected by fastening devices 62 in the form of bolts or the like, and serve also as means for 'securing the rings 56 in position. Inl order to` couple the two sections togetherwith this improved joint, all that is necessary is toarrange the rings 56 .between the coupling members 60 and place the fastening devices 62 in pesi-` tion, after which and before the fastening devices are tightened, the handle 6l of he rings may be asped by the operator and eitherone or oth of the rings rotated in the same or opposite directions.l When properly adjusted, the fastening devices 62 may be ti htened and a fluid tight jointuill be forme What is claimed as new is- Y 1. In a heat distributing system, the co mbination of a supply pipe, an `insulating casing entirely surrounding the pipe an spaced therefrom, means within the casing for supporting the pipe out of contact with the casing, and means eXterior of the sursupport, a portion'of the support protruding through and beyondthe outer face of the surrounding Wall of the casing and resting upon the said base, and a covering constructed of plastic material incasing the said insulating Vcasing and the said protruding portion of the support for anchoring the latter.

l3. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a supply pipe, an insulating casing surrounding the pipe, a base upon which the casing rests, means for holding the pipe out of contact With the casing comprising a support Within the casing provided with a raceway, a roller movable in the raceway and with Which the pipe has engagement, a portion of the support protruding through and beyond the outer face of the casing and resting upon the said base for anchoring thesupport.

4. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a supply pipe, an insulating easing surroundingl the pipe, a base upon which the casing rests, means for holding the pipe out of contact with the casing comprising a support Within the casing provided with a raceway, aroller movable in the raceway and with Which the pipe has engagement, a portion of the support pro- .truding through and beyond the outer face of the casing and engaging and resting Y upon the said base, and a covering conthe pipe out of contact with the casing comlas,

structed of plastic material surrounding the casing and the said protruding portion of the support rand in which covering the said portion of the support is embedded.

5. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a supply pipe, an insulating casing surrounding the pipe, a base upon which the casing rests, means for holding prlsing a support Within the vcasingvprovided with a raceway, a roller movable in the raceway and with which the pipe has engagement, a portion of the support'protruding through and beyond the outer Aface of .the casing and resting upon the vsaid base, and a covering constructed of Waterproofed plastic material surrounding the casing and coperating with the base to incase the casing, and inWhich covering the said protruding portion of the support is embedded.

6. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a supply pipe, an insulating casfreely movable in each of the raceways and against which rollers the pipe rests.

7 In a heat distributing system, the combination of a supply pipe, an insulating casing surrounding the pipe, a bearing Within the casing for holding the pipe out of` contact With the casing, said bearing being provided With a channel open-at the top and bottom to form a raceWay, and a roller freely movable in the raceWay and against Which roller the pipe rests.

8. In a heat distributing system, the combination'of aV supply pipe,` an insulating casing surrounding Ithe pipe, a bearing Within the casing for holding the pipe out of contact With the casing, said bearing being provided with a channel, the Walls of the channel inclining toward and terminating short of each other to form a raceway having an opening at the bottom thereof, and a roller freely movable in and engaging the Walls of the raceWay and against Which roller the pipe rests.

9. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a supply pipe, an insulating casing surrounding the pipe, abearing within the casing for holding the pipe out of contact with the casing, said bearing being provided With a channel, the Walls of the channel inclining towards and terminating short of each other to form a raceWay having an opening at the bottom thereof, a roller freely movable in and engagin ,the Walls of the vraceway and against Whlch roller the pipe rests, said bearlng protruding .through and beyond the outer face of the casing, and

means coperating with the said protruding portion for anchoring the bearing.

10. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a supply pipe, an insulating casing surrounding the pi e, a bearing for holding the pipe out o contact with the casing, said bearing extending into the cas- Y ing from the outsidethereof and comprising extended raceways spaced from each other and open at their bottoms, and rollers freely movable in the raceways, and against which the pipe rests, portions of said bearing being embedded in the casing.

11. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a supply pipe, an insulating casing surrounding the pipe, a bearing for holding the pipe out of contact With the casing, said bearin ing from the outside thereof and comprising extended raceways spaced from each other and open yat their bottoms, rollers freely movable in the rapcev'vays, and against i which the pipe rests, portions of said bearing being embedded in the casing, and portions projecting beyond the outer-'face of extending into the casthe casing, and means exterior ofthe casing and coperatin with the last recited portions for anchorlngthe bearing.

12. In a heat distributing system, the com- 5 bination of Ya supply pipe, an insulating casing surrounding the pipe, a bearing for holding the pipe out of contact with the casing, said bearing comprising a hollow support, shaped to form a raceway having an open bottom through which dirt may pass into the support, a roller mounted ,in the raceway and adapted to traverse the raceway by the expansion and contraction of the pipe, and means for anchoring the said support. f

13. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a supply pipe, an insulating casing surrounding the pipe, a bearing tor holding the pipe out of contact with the casing, said bearing comprising a hollow support shaped to form spaced extended raceways having open bottoms forming communication with the hollow support, and rollers mounted and freely movable in the raceways and against which rollers the pipe rests, the body portion of the support being embedded in the casing and projecting beyond the outer face thereof, and means cooperating with the said projecting portion for anchoring the bearing.

14. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a supply pipe, an insulating casing surrounding the pipe, a bearing for holding the pipe out of contact with the casing, said bearing comprising a hollow support shaped to` forml spaced extended raceways having open bottoms forming communication with thel hollow support, and rollers mounted and freely movable in the raceways and against which rollers' the pipe rests, the body portion of the support being embedded in the casing and projecting bedyond the outer face thereof, and a covering constructed of plastic material engaging and surrounding the casing and in which covering the said projecting portion of the sup- (port is embedded.

15. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a supply pipe, an insulating cas- 50 ing surroundlng the pipe, a bearing for holding the pipe out of j' contact with `the casing, said bearing comprising spaced hollow supports each being provlded with an extended4 raceway open at their bottoms,` rollers supported for free movement in' thef raceways by the expansion andrcontraction of the pipe and against which the pipe rests, and a connection between the supports, said casing being cut away t6 receive and incase the said connection and the body portions of the supports. ,V

16. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a supply pipe, an insulatin casing surrounding the pipe, a bearing for oldv ing the pipe out of contact with the casing,

said bearing comprising spaced hollow supports each being provided with an extended Jraceway open at their bottoms, rollers supported for free movement in the raceways by the expansion yand contraction of the pipe j and against -which the pipe rests, a connection between the supports, said casing lbeing cutaway to receive and incase the said con- 'nection and the body port-ions of the supports, and a covering constructed of plastic material surrounding and incasing the said casing and bearings.

17. In aheat distributing system, the combination of a pipe, a sectional casing surrounding the pipe, a bearing for supporting the pipe out of contact with the casmg, the proximate ends of adjacent sections of the casing' being cut away to receivel the bearing, portions of the bearing projecting through and beyond the outer face of the casing, and aV tlexible..member exterding across the joint and surrounding the said sections, said flexible member also engaging the protruding portion of the bearing.

18. In a heatdistributing system,the combination of a pipe, a sectional casing sur-v and beyond4v the outer face of the casi:1g,a

flexible member extending across the joint and surrounding the said sections, said flexible member also engaging the protrudlng portion of the bearing, and a' covering coustructed` of plastic material engaging and surrounding the casing and iexible member and in which the protruding portion cf the bearing is embedded.

19. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a pipe, a sectional casing sur'- rounding the pipe, a bearing for suppe rting the pipe out of contact with the casing, the proximate ends of adjacent sections of the casing being cut away to receive the bearing, a portion of the bearing protruding .through i ai and beyond the outer face of the casing, said protruding portion being recessed, and I means securing the ends of the casing together, said means including a flexible member encu-,

together, saidi means including a flexible member encircling the joint, a portion of i recess in the protruding portion of the bearing, and fastening devices engaging said flexible member and the casing.

21'. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a pipe, a sectional casing sur-- rounding the pipe, a bearing for supporting the pipe out of contact With the casing, the proximate ends of adjacent sections of the casing being out away to receive the bearing, a portion of the bearing protruding through and beyondthe outer face of the casing, said protrudingfportion being recessed, means securing the ends of the casing together, said means including a flexible member encircling the joint, a portion of said Hexible member being seated in the said recess in the protruding portion of the bearing, and a covering constructed of plastic material surrounding and engaging the casing and flexible member and in Which the protruding portion of the bearing is embedded.-

22. A bearing for the distributing pipe of a heating system comprising spaced c0nnected supports, each of which is provided with an extended raceway, and a roller mounted in each of the raceways and against Which fthe pipe rests, said rollers being adapted to freely traverse the raceWays by the expansion and contraction of the pipe, the supports being provided With recesses opening through their base. i

23. A bearing for the distributing pipe of a heating system comprising spaced connected supports, each Vof which is provided with an extended raceWay, and a roller mounted in each of the raceways and against which the pipe rests, said rollers being adapted to freely' traverse the raceWays by the expansion and contraction of the pipe, the supports being provided with recesses opening through their base, and to form shoulders Within their body portions adjacent the lower face of the base.

24; bearing for the distributing pipe of a heating system comprising a body prov1ded wlth spaced raceways, rollers mounted in the raceways, against which the pipe rests and which rollers are freely movable in the raceways by the expansion and contraction of the pipe, the said body being provided With a recess opening through one face to form shoulders adjacent the face, and an arm extending vinto the recess and upon which the'said shoulders rest for supporting the bearing.

25. A bearing for the distributing pipe of a heating system comprising a hollow body portion provided upon one face With spaced and extended raceways each having an open bottom to form communication with the interior of the body portion and a roller mounted to freely traverse each of the raceways.

26. A bearing for the distributing pipe of Y a heating system comprising a hollow body portion provided upon one face ynth spaced and extended raceways each having an open c bottom to form communication with the interior of the bodyV portion and a roller mounted to freely traverse each of the race- Ways, said raceways being provided With closed ends to form stops for the rollers.

27. In a heat distributing system, the combination of a supply pipe, an insulating casing entirely surrounding the pipe, means Within the casing for supporting the pipe out of contact with the casing, a base upon Which the casing rests, a portion of the pipe supporting means protruding through the surrounding Wall of the insulating casing and also rest-ing upon the base, and a covering formed of plastic material surrounding the casing and coperating with the base to inclose the casing, the protruding portion of the pipe support being embedded in the plastic material for anchoring the support. In testimony whereof I -have signed my lname to this specification, in the presence M. W. CANTWELL,

J. H. JooHUM, Jr. 

